Tangled Webs Part I

 Episode Name:  Tangled Webs Part I
   Written By:  Lace
         Cast:  Dakin, Edwards, Lace, Lancer, McAnally, Nevaren,
                Park, Starfleet and Tahlandi.
  Produced By:  Starfleet
  Directed By:  Lace
     Aired On:  Sun Mar 31 09:36:44 2002
     Stardate:  52231.9

Time: Sat Mar 30 20:26:14 2002

Stardate: 52230.5

McAnally steps into the bustle of Ops from the corridor. The door slides shut with a whisper.

McAnally has arrived.

Dakin is working on his usual business when something appears on his board. "We got a ship on an approach vector, Lieutenant."

Edwards settles into the main command chair and glances up, "Identification?"

McAnally sits down at Operations.

Dakin sits down at Security.

McAnally arrives on a Turbolift as this is going on, striding down the ramp to take her place at the Operations console.

Tahlandi glances over at McAnally as she joins her at the console, giving her a polite nod before turning back to her screen.

Dakin calls up a transponder reading. "Someone we've been expecting actually... the cargo freighter Orraca Trey... wha... hang on... she's venting plasma from the looks of it. Hail them?"

McAnally looks up sharply at this news, as she's been tracking this vessel's progress. Her fingers pause over buttons on her console. "Ready to open a Channel, Sir."

Nevaren steps into the bustle of Ops from the corridor. The door slides shut with a whisper.

Nevaren has arrived.

Edwards frowns severely at that news and orders, "McAnally, hail 'em. Tahlandi, inform Engineering that they should be prepared to scramble a repair crew."

Dakin watches his console carefully, bringing up passive sensor arrays.

McAnally's console emits a few beeps as she sends the hail. "They're responding."

Nevaren slips into Ops, quietly making his way around teh room to his terminal and quickly logging in as he tries to take stock of teh situation.

Tahlandi nods in response to Edwards, her hands flying over the console. "Done, sir."

Edwards stands up from his chair and straightens his tunic absently, "Put it on screen."

Dakin gets the readings back from his scans. "Reading outer hull damage... plasma burns from the sensor readings." He then looks between McAnally and the viewscreen in wait for the comm signal to come through.

McAnally puts the incoming hail on screen. "Aye, Sir."

The viewscreen transfers into the scratchy image of a dimly lit bridge. The image flickers irratically, and the audio is somewhat broken. A human male speaks up from the center. "This is the Oracca Trey on approach vector....taken damage from .. in the Neutral Zone. Request permission to dock....assistance."

Edwards looks to the viewscreen, and the man's image, and responds, "This is Station 419. We're prepared to render assistance. You're cleared for approach." He glances back toward Nevaren, "Get repair crews on the move."

Dakin looks on both his board and the viewscreen with scrutiny.

From the viewscreen, the flickering clears breifly and the audio becomes clearer. "This is Captain Lancer. Thank you, Station 419." The man scowls at something out of view, then nods and looks back. "Our manuvering thrusters are damaged. We may not be able to make dock on our own."

McAnally assigns appropriate docking clearance information for the vessel. "Sir, I recommend we beam their cargo into the bay immediately after they dock to avoid a risk of it being damaged." She shoots Edwards a significant look, as if silently implying something about the importance of that cargo.

Nevaren starts bringing up screens. "Repair crews are green and on teh go, sir."

Edwards looks to McAnally and Tahlandi, "Tractor the Trey in once they reach docking range." After McAnally's recommendation, he nods, "Go for it." His attention returns to the viewscreen, "We'll handle everything we can on our end, Captain. Just keep that ship together until our engineers can get to it."

"Ensign Tahlandi, ready the tractor beam," says McAnally, as she herself notifies Cargo Bay 2 of the impending transfer from the damaged freighter.

From the viewscreen, Lancer looks somewhat uncomfortable. "I don't think the cargo is a problem. Just the ship's hull." He nods to someone out of visual range again. "Cutting our engines now. You may tractor us when ready."

Tahlandi nods in response to McAnally's order, her fingers flying over the console. "Tractor beam ready..." As soon as the Trey comes within docking range, she activates the beam, locking onto the ship.

Nevaren looks up from his screens. "Repair and Emergancy teams standing by at the dock. EVA teams are suiting up for hull duty."

Edwards replies to Lancer, "Don't worry, Captain. You're in good hands." He nods toward Tahlandi, "Bring them in, Ensign."

Dakin watches all the goings-on carefully, not wanting interject anything while on an open channel.

McAnally discreetly mutes the channel while the tractoring process is going on, and turns in her chair to face Edwards. "Sir, I'm no Betazoid, but he seemed distinctly unwilling to allow us to transport his cargo."

A beeping alarm suddenly eminates from Nevaren's console. Frowning, the engineer's fingers fly over the controls as reports start pouring in. "We have a Hull Breach in the Trey's primary cargo hold. Atmosphere is venting." He starts directing the EVA crews and maintainence drones to the site from his controls. "Damnit, I don't know how long it will take them to start fixing it. The whole structure in that area seems unstable."

Tahlandi frowns at Nevaren's words, and increases the rate at which the Trey is brought towards the station.

Edwards remarks, "But he didn't say no, Gretch." At Nevaren's report, his frown returns, "Get that cargo out of there. Now. And make sure it won't blow the hell out of our cargo hold." He drops back down into his chair, "Rann, get a security team down to the cargo hold for an inspection."

Dakin holds and reaches for his combadge.

Dakin taps his comm badge, "Lieutenant Dakin to Ensign Sulok."

Over Dakin's comm badge a voice answers, "Ensign Sulok here."

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Ensign, we're having a load of cargo being beamed in from a damaged freighter. Get down to the cargo bay and run a full inspection on it. Get in touch with me immediately if you've found anything out of sorts."

From Dakin's comm badge, Sulok says, "Yes sir."

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Keep me posted. Dakin out."

Dakin reaches up and taps his comm badge, ending transmission.

"Aye, Sir," says McAnally, quickly swivelling back around to face her console and initiate cargo transport.

Edwards orders, "Unmute the transmission."

McAnally complies with Edwards' order without commenting.

Nevaren says "EVA Crews are on the breach site now. If you are going to transport that cargo you better do it quick.. unless it will surivice hard vaccum""

From the viewscreen, Lancer peers intently back at the Station 419 crew. "My crews report arrival at the dock. Initiating docking clamps. We have report of a hull breach somewhere near the cargo holds..." He frowns intently at that news, and nods once more. "Go ahead."

Edwards states, "We're securing your cargo, Captain Lancer, and our repair teams are getting to work. What happened?"

Dakin looks between Lancer and his console, not trying to appear impatient from waiting on word fromSulok.

McAnally frowns as she starts the transport, and hurriedly sends a message to the cargo personnel. "Sir, I'm going to have to beam this into Cargo Bay 1 instead. Its got more clear space, and I'm not sure that this won't inflict damage to our own stores." She beams the cargo to its new location, "Lt. Dakin, your security team should be notified of the change."

Nevaren looks up from his delegation duties. "Should I send a second Emergancy team to Cargo Bay 1? Just in case?"

Edwards glances toward the engineering station and nods, "Yes, Mr. Nevaren. I'd like to be ready to handle any nasty surprises that pop up."

Dakin nods to McAnally, then taps his combadge again. "Dakin to Sulok. The cargo's being directed to cargo bay 1. Have your team assembled there. Dakin out."

Nevaren nods and taps a channel open on his console. "Emergancy Team Beta, please report Cargo Bay One. I want you equipped for complete emergancy responce."

Edwards drums his fingers against the armrest of his chair and inquires, "Status reports?"

Dakin's comm badge chirrups, and a voice says, "Ensign Sulok to Lieutenant Dakin."

Dakin blinks and speaks to Edwards before answering. "Here's one now, hopefully.."

Tapping his comm badge, Dakin says, "Go ahead, Ensign."

From Dakin's comm badge, Sulok says, "Sir, we have detected faint biosigns in one of the containers. They are that of a Romulan."

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Acknowldged. Get someone from Medical down there to aid you if the life signs are that faint. If it looks as though their life's in danger, crack it open."

From Dakin's comm badge, Sulok says, "Yes sir."

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Good work, Mr. Sulok, keep me informed, Dakin out."

Dakin reaches up and taps his comm badge, ending transmission.

When Dakin finishes receiving Sulok's report, McAnally gives the report she's received from the cargo bay. "Bay personnel simply state that the cargo was transferred successfully, and that security's going over it. Apparently nothing anomalous to report about the transport itself, Sir."

Nevaren grumbles. "Well, good thing my boys and girls are trained for this type of thing."

Tahlandi raises an eyebrow at the report from Sulok.

Edwards mutters to himself, "Smuggling Romulans..." He stands back up and turns to regard Nevaren at his station, "Wasn't much of a report, Leftenant. What do you mean?"

Dakin's comm badge chirrups, and a voice says, "Lieutenant JG Rivers to Lieutenant Dakin."

Tapping his comm badge, Dakin says, "Dakin here."

Nevaren looks over at Edwards. "Engineering is the most heavily trained in emergancy rescue techniques, sir, besides Medical. Emergancy Response Team Beta doubles as our search and rescue, in conjuction with a few security and medical offcers."

From Dakin's comm badge, Rivers says, "Lieutenant..there are two containers, both with Romulan biosigns. Only one appears to be weak, and medical is on their way. The containers appear to contain some kind of statis field, but they're locked. We're examining the one that has a visible computer panel to see if we can get it open. Any instructions, sir?"

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Get someone from Engineering to assist you. If it's boobytrapped, I don't want to risk their lives by ham-handing our way into it."

From Dakin's comm badge, Rivers says, "Acknowledged, Sir. Rivers out."

Dakin's comm badge ends its transmission.

McAnally listens to this, and asks, "Where is Captain Lancer and his crew? We'll need to make sure they're somewhere where they can be questioned about how they incurred this damage, not to mention containers with Romulan biosigns in them."

Edwards considers that a moment and makes a decision, "Rann, get Lancer up here. But let's remember that he's a guest and not a criminal. For now."

Dakin nods and taps his combadge. "Dakin to Security. Send an officer to the hangar bay to escort Captain Lancer from the Orraca Trey to Ops. Diplomatic approach."

Nevaren says "Sirs, when the ship is completely tethered, should I slip through their telemetry stream and access their computer?""

Edwards shakes his head and replies, "That's a step I'd rather not have to take. Let's see what Captain Lancer has to say for himself first."

Dakin keeps his eye on the entrance to the room in patient wait for the arrival of the freighter captain.

McAnally waits also, quiet for now.

Nevaren nods at Edwards reply. "Aye sir...." he then look at his console, follwing his teams reports, "Though, the first question you whould probably ask is why is he smuggling romulans...."

Tahlandi glances over her console, her fingers tapping over it quietly.

Edwards remarks, "I was thinking about trying something like that." He glances around at the assembled crewmembers, "So... what do you all think?"

Dakin thinks for a minute. "Two possible scenarios. Either he's directly responsible for having those Romulans on ice, or someone on his crew's doing it without his say-so. Given his rather reluctant attitude towards beaming out his cargo, I'm guessing the former."

McAnally adds, "It would seem this is the situation Ambassador Maek was referring to. Perhaps he could shed some light on the situation if Lancer should prove reluctant to speak."

Nevaren deosn't add anything since he doesn't know what teh heck they are talking about.

Edwards nods slowly, "The question is... why does he have Romulans? As for Ambassador Maek... he wasn't very forthcoming when questioned about why they wanted the Orraca Trey searched. He implied that they tortured information out of someone and claimed that the Trey had Romulan artifacts... But why hide what he really thought if we would find out when searching the ship anyway?"

Lancer has arrived.

GAME: Lancer is joining this location.

Lancer is escorted into Ops in the company of two security officers.

Dakin starts to respond to Edwards' hypothesis, but then holds his tongue at lancer's arrival. He nods to his two officers, "Thanks."

McAnally merely watches the officers escort Lancer in, quiet once more.

Edwards turns toward the entrance when Lancer is escorted in. "Captain." he greets. "Welcome aboard. We managed to secure your cargo."

Lancer glances behind him at the security people, then looks back to Edwards and nods. A faint smile appears. "Thank you, Sir." He stuffs his hands down into his pockets. "I appreciate the assistance."

Dakin's comm badge chirrups, and a voice says, "Ensign Sulok to Lieutenant Dakin."

Dakin blinks and nods to both Lancer and Edwards. "If you'll all excuse me, I need to take this..." He then goes out into the connecting hallway.

Dakin heads out of Operations and into the main corridor.

Dakin has left.

Edwards considers Lancer with a neutral expression and asks, "Care to tell us what you're hauling?"

Lancer shrugs. "Standard cargo. Foods and such. Some fabrics and other rarieties from Romulus. Why?"

Dakin steps into the bustle of Ops from the corridor. The door slides shut with a whisper.

Dakin has arrived.

Dakin steps back into the room from the connecting hallway. "Sorry about that, gentlemen." He retakes his position at the security station.

Edwards makes a face and turns away from Lancer, "Now, see... out of the goodness of our hearts, we let you come to our station when you're in need, dock, send our engineers to fix your damage, and save your cargo from the vaccuum of space. And you lie to us. I don't appreciate that."

McAnally's mouth quirks a little at Edwards words, and she watches to see how Lancer reacts.

Tahlandi smirks a little without looking up from her console.

Nevaren also smiles faintly, but it is far from Humorfilled.

Lancer blinks. "Lie?" He glances around a bit and swallows. Hard. "Um. Right. You must be referring to the mysterious containers one of my .. clients, had transported aboard, yes?"

Edwards slowly turns back toward the Captain, "Perhaps you could be a little more specific?"

Dakin crosses his arms from his position at the security console, also interested in Lancer's response.

Lancer shrugs again. "I was told to transport them to Vulcan." He frowns, deeply. "I don't know who they are. Just that they required safe passage to Vulcan."

Edwards scrutinizes Lancer for a moment, then finally relents with a nod. "All right." he replies. "If that's all you know... Maybe Ambassador Maek can shed some more light on all of this."

Dakin says to Lancer, "I don't suppose it would interest you to know that the lifesigns of one of your passengers was failing? My guess is he wouldn't have made it to Vulcan."

Lancer winces, visibly. "Sir. That would..negate getting them safely to Vulcan. If they know they're here.." He sighs. "They probably do, since they did their damndest to keep me from crossing into Federation space." He glances to Dakin, his expression reflecting obvious concern. "Can you help them?"

Nevaren says "Unificationists..." Nev thinks aloud."

Edwards states evenly, "Tell me everything you know about them, Captain. Who they are, who they came from, and why they're going to Vulcan. And bear in mind that if I'm not satisfied, I'll have no choice but to turn them and you over to the Romulan authorities."

Dakin looks to Edwards and Lancer. "That was Sulok a minute ago. They were able to beam the injured passenger to the infirmary. He's in Medical's hands now."

Lancer nods his head slowly, shooting a glance toward Nevaren. "Yes," he answers quietly. "I don't know all that much, really. I was contacted by a Romulan trader, to transport these two to Vulcan. He said it was imperitive that they reach safety, and remain unknown to the Romulan government. I believe they would be requesting asylum."

Edwards looks between Lancer and Nevaren briefly. "You mean to tell me that you just decided to shuttle these two across the border because some Romulan told you to?" he asks. "What if they're Tal'Shiar spies? Or terrorists?"

Nevaren frowns "Like the Tal'kaden.." he says quietly and darkly.

Lancer shakes his head. "No, I wouldn't have done that. I've dealt with this trader before. He's part of some reform group there on Romulus." The man sighs. "And I got word after I left that he was taken by Romulan soldiers shortly after I set out. I haven't heard anything else."

"Why risk your vessel for this trader?" McAnally asks quietly, from her position.

Edwards simply considers Lancer as he waits for the man to answer McAnally's question.

Dakin listens also for Lancer's response to McAnally's query.

Lancer looks to McAnally and frowns. "I try to help people where I can, Miss. The man is harmless, at least to us. I doubt the Romulans would agree, obviously. He told me these two were compatriots in a cause. I couldn't just turn them all away and let the Romulan government have them."

McAnally listens to this answer, regarding Lancer carefully as if assessing whether he looks the type to go for philanthropic missions. She merely nods a towards Edwards, "I apologize for interrupting, Sir."

Nevaren agrees quietly to teh captains assessment of the romulan government.

Edwards stops eyeballing Lancer and glances toward McAnally, offering her a brief smile. "Gretch, we need a good hiding spot for a few guests. I want them away from Captain Lancer's other cargo for now." he states.

Dakin looks to Edwards. "Think I should post some in-quarters guards for their protection?"

McAnally nods her head, half-turning to pull up some displays on her console. "Are we talking for the entire crew of the Orraca Trey, Sir?"

Nevaren sits up straighter and faces the comand. "If you need a place for the two guests... Use my quarters." he offers quietly. "I mean, even if they got their sensors on my quarters, how would they know if it was their friends, or me?"

Lancer glances around from one face to another. "I take it you're not going to turn them over to the Romulans then?" He looks greatly relieved.

Edwards shakes his head, "No, I don't think the Orraca Trey will be staying long. Just our two special guests, Leftenant." He glances toward Nevaren, "I appreciate the offer, Nevaren. Maybe as a last resort. But this is a big station. We should have some out of the way, innocuous rooms that aren't in use." Back to Ops, "You two, find one of those rooms." His attention bounces to Dakin, "Only electronic surveillance. I want none of our crew looking out of place." Finally, he looks to Lancer, and replies, "Who? Captain, understand this. The Romulans are our valued allies. They've requested an inspection of your ship and cargo. I intend to carry out that inspection, probably with Ambassador Maek coming along. But I suspect that they won't find anything interesting."

Edwards adds, "When the inspection is finished, we'll make sure /all/ of your cargo is put back on your vessel before you depart."

Dakin nods to Edwards then says to McAnally. "Let me know where you'll be housing them so I can have the internal sensors there on continuous feed."

Lancer nods, looking vaguely confused. "I see." The rest of it goes completely over his head, from the slack-eyed expression on his face. "About the repairs.."

Nevaren looks at Captain Lancer. "My men are already on it. Give them..." he looks at his console.. "12 hours?"

"Ah, I see, Sir," says McAnally, then continues, "Since one of the... guests is in the Infirmary, I think we'd better talk to medical before trying to secret him off someplace." That said, she leans in towards Tahlandi. "Ensign, search through our various storage rooms, see if we have one available that could house Captain Lancer's cargo, preferably not too far from medical staff."

McAnally starts conducting a search of her own as well, even as she delegates.

Tahlandi begins to scroll through data on her console. "Looks like there's a place down on Deck 28, near Cargo Bay 2."

Dakin's comm badge chirrups, and a voice says, "Lieutenant JG Rivers to Lieutenant Dakin."

Tapping his comm badge, Dakin says, "Go ahead, Dana."

From Dakin's comm badge, Rivers says, "Sir..we're attempting to get the second container open, now. Requesting instructions as to what to do with the occupant."

Edwards looks up and shakes his heads at Dakin.

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Cease activity on that, Dana. Leave that container alone."

Nevaren stands and logs out of his console. "If I may, I will go supervise the repairs on the Trey personally."

Edwards looks to Nevaren and nods his assent, "Inform me when the repairs are finished, Mr. Nevaren."

Nevaren nods and quickly leaves ops, shouldering satchel

From Dakin's comm badge, Rivers says, "Um, Sir? It might be a bit late for that. I don't /think/ the stasis field has been disrupted, but the locking panel is open now. Are we going to leave this one in stasis then?"

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "That's correct, Lieutenant."

"Sir," says McAnally. "Are we moving the "cargo" by site-to-site transport?"

From Dakin's comm badge, Rivers says, "Understood. Awaiting further instruction then."

Edwards gives Dakin one of his newly patented so-not-happy looks at the information Rivers relays. McAnally's question distracts him, however, and he looks to Lancer, "It's safe, isn't it?"

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Standby, Lieutenant."

"It /would/ be beneficial in helping them avoid detection," submits Gretchen.

Lancer nods. "It should be. It isn't booby trapped or anything. But if the other one is damaged.." He gives his head a shake. "No, it should be fine, at least for now."

Edwards nods and looks toward Dakin, "Tell them to make sure the passenger is all right and the container is sealed." He turns his gaze to the Ops officers, "When it's ready, Ensign Tahlandi, transport the sealed container to the location you found and relay the location to the security station. McAnally, contact Medical and see how the other one's doing."

Dakin nods and responds to Rivers...

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Dana, make sure the passenger's healthy, then close it backup. We're going to beam the container elsewhere on the station."

From Dakin's comm badge, Rivers says, "So far so good, sir. As long as we don't open the container, the field will remain intact."

Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Understood. Then stand by for transport. Dakin out."

Dakin reaches up and taps his comm badge, ending transmission.

McAnally says "Medical responds that the other Romulan is in critical condition. The time spent in the damaged statis field has caused injury, and they recommend fully bringing him out of statis."

The cargo container is reported transported to the specified location, and security is notified.

Edwards curses softly under his breath, "Tell Med to quarantine him and do whatever it takes to make sure he lives. I want nobody to know he's there without my personal authorization."

McAnally relays Edwards orders to Medical verbatim. "Aye, Sir."

Edwards nods at that and comments to nobody in particular, "Now let's hope we can get through this without starting another intergalactic war."